"Balatro Reclassified to PEGI 12 After Publisher's Appeal"

In a surprising turn of events, the roguelike deckbuilder Balatro has been reclassified from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12 by the ratings board. This adjustment aligns it more appropriately with its content, placing it on a more even footing after its initial, more mature rating. Previously, Balatro was unexpectedly categorized alongside heavy hitters like Grand Theft Auto, a classification that puzzled many, including its developer.

The reclassification to PEGI 12 came about after an appeal from Balatro's publisher to the board, as announced by developer Localthunk on Twitter. This change reflects a more fitting rating for the game, considering its actual content.

Balatro has faced its share of challenges with external organizations. Notably, it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns over its perceived gambling content. However, it's important to clarify that players cannot win real money or place bets in Balatro. The game uses cash merely as an abstract concept to buy more cards within each run.

The house always wins
The initial PEGI 18 rating was primarily due to the game's use of gambling-adjacent imagery. The notion that someone might learn about card hands like a straight flush or a flush from Balatro was considered as severe as vehicular homicide in GTA, which seems disproportionate.

This misclassification has had broader implications, affecting the game's availability on other platforms, including mobile, despite the common presence of in-app transactions in many mobile games. While the reclassification to PEGI 12 is a welcome correction, it's frustrating that such a mistake occurred in the first place.

If you're now considering giving Balatro a try, you might want to check out our tier list of Jokers to see which of these game-changing cards are worth your attention.

For frequent readers and newcomers alike, this story serves as a reminder of the complexities and sometimes arbitrary nature of game ratings and classifications.